Pakistan International Airlines crew member vanishes in Toronto

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OTTAWA – For the third time this year, a crew member from an incoming Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight has gone missing in Toronto.

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Asif Najam, a senior cabin crew member for the Karachi-based airline, arrived in Toronto last Sunday on flight PK798 from Lahore and was due to take a return flight to Pakistan three days later.

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According to Dubai news agency Gulf Newshe never showed up for the flight, despite repeated attempts by the airline to contact him.

When the airline was contacted regarding the reason for his absence, Gulf News messages he described as “poor health.”

Najam's absence marks the third time this year that PIA flight attendants have gone into hiding during a layover in Canada.

An official investigation has been launched

Toronto Sun approached PIA for comment but Gulf News reported that the airline told them that a formal investigation had been launched.

“When contacted, he cited poor health as the reason,” airline spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said. Gulf News.

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“The matter is being investigated and if it is determined that he disappeared illegally, action will be taken.”

Eight crew members failed to show up for return flights to Canada between 2022 and 2023, according to PIA.

Canada's asylum rules are tempting

Canada's lax asylum and immigration rules are often cited as a reason for PIA crew members skipping return flights in hopes of bypassing normal procedures and gaining permanent residency in Canada.

In October 2024 Mohsin Raza was unable to board his return flight to Islamabad after he arrived in Toronto.

Earlier that year, in February, Maryam Raza left her air hostess uniform at the hotel with a note reading “Shukriya PIA”, which translates to “thank you PIA”.

A month later, PIA steward Jibran Baloch also absconded from his hotel without showing up for his return flight to Islamabad.

The airline's attempts to resolve the issue have gone nowhere, including forcing staff on flights to Toronto to surrender their passports.

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